Page 9 of Fame & Obsession

She’s evil.

Or I could be jealous.

She slowly runs her claws down the sex god’s arm, rubbing suggestively at his wrist. “Don’t those people like outhouses, anyway?”

“Shut the hell up, Vivian,” he snaps.

I glare at her, then direct a softened expression his way. “It’s okay, I’m sure the line has thinned out downstairs.”

“There’s plenty of space up here. Go wherever you want and then get a drink at the bar when you’re done. Tanna is over there now. Tell her it’s on me.” He gestures toward a young girl with purple hair sitting on a chrome barstool.

I offer her a timid wave. In return, she chews on the straw in her soda like she’d sooner suck on a downed power line than clink glasses in sisterhood.

Tempting. But I do have a sliver of pride left.

“Thanks, but my friend is probably about to call the Coast Guard for a search and rescue.” I give him a shy smile.

Apparently, I’ve became shy in between making out and making conversation.

He sweeps his eyes down my body again, and the sexual heat should’ve offended me. Instead, the heated possession in his gaze makes me shiver.

Turning gingerly on my heels, I walk past Hulk to the iron landing. With a toe dangling off the first step, I glance over my shoulder to see the party back in full swing. All attention has refocused in my absence, except for one pair of green eyes following my every move.

* * *

“Pheebs, tell them about the guy you tongued in front of the whole bar.”

The empty drink tumbles from my hand and slides across the table. “Gage! I told you that privately.”

He grins. “Baby doll, this is New York. Thereisno privacy.”

I snort as he runs his arm down some random guy’s back, I assume he’s chosen as his prey for the night. This one looks like he walked straight off the pages of an Old Navy catalog, and it took Gage all of ten minutes to have him eating out of the palm of his hand.

I frown as the night’s events replay in my head. Narnia’s escapades and my slutty reaction to a perfect stranger bother me. It’s not like me to lose it like that. I rarely drink, so tangling a fuzzy brain and raging hormones is unfamiliar territory.

Muttering a curse, I grab Gage’s drink and down it, only to be disappointed at the lack of contents.

Gage stares at me, concern etched on his face. “Pheebs, don’t you think you need to slow down?”

“Probably.”

Fighting with Gage is the last thing I want to do. He’s my source of comfort, but right now, I prefer to wallow in my shame and then drown it in booze.

His eyes widen and then narrow. “Okay, what gives? No snappy comeback? Where’s my banter, baby doll? Are you sick?”

“No, I’m not sick.” I chuckle. “But I might be losing my mind.”

“Pheeeeebs.” He draws out my name, then shoots me a disapproving look. “How much vodka have you had tonight?”

I manage a sarcastic laugh. “Not nearly enough.” Uncurling my hand from the glass, I rub my forehead. “I’ll explain later, but for now, just indulge me, okay?” Pleased to find another drink in front of me, courtesy of Gage’s Old Navy guy, I give him a thankful smile and down it, letting the alcohol burn a fiery trail down my throat.

Eh, who needs an esophagus…

I wonder if I’ll have a job tomorrow. I’ll have to send Heath Vaughn a thank you card—wrapped in dog shit.

Then reality sets in.God… What if I do get fired?Then what will I do? How could I have allowed one night to send five months down the drain.

I moved to the melting pot of the world for a new beginning. After three years of hell, the only way to put the past behind me was toliterallyput it behind me. I drove away from my North Carolina home, tears flowing, hoping for more…